overnight

[ adverb oh-ver-nahyt; adjective, noun oh-ver-nahyt; verb oh-ver-nahyt ]

See synonyms for: overnight overnighted overnighting overnights on Thesaurus.com

adverb

for or during the night: to stay overnight.
on or during the previous evening: Preparations were made overnight.

very quickly; suddenly: New suburbs sprang up overnight.

adjective

done, made, occurring, or continuing during the night: an overnight stop; an overnight decision.
staying for one night: a group of overnight guests.

designed to be used on a trip or for a journey lasting one night or only a few nights.
intended for delivery on the next day: overnight letters; an overnight package.
valid for one night: The corporal got an overnight pass.
occurring suddenly or within a very short time: a comedian who became an overnight sensation.

noun

Informal. an overnight stay or trip: Our daughter had an overnight at a friend's house.
Informal. a permit for overnight absence, as from a college dormitory: She had an overnight the night of the prom.

the previous evening.

verb (used without object)

to have an overnight stay or trip: We'll overnight in Denver, then fly on to San Diego.

Origin of overnight

Middle English word dating back to 1325–75; see origin at over-, night

Words Nearby overnight

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use overnight in a sentence

I remember all our music appeared on Spotify overnight, without anybody asking us.
Belle & Sebastian Aren’t So Shy Anymore | James Joiner | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
The quandary of whether to freeze eggs or not could become irrelevant overnight.
Men Will Someday Have Kids Without Women | Samantha Allen | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
It took 12 hours to rescue just 100 passengers overnight Sunday.
‘We’re Going to Die’: Survivors Recount Greek Ferry Fire Horror | Barbie Latza Nadeau | December 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
overnight on a New York City street, two artists might be creating their latest photo set, made entirely from discarded items.
#Setinthestreet: Your Street Corner Is Their Art Project | James Joiner | December 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
After last night's dinner, Will and Kate, still in evening dress, were whisked to JFK airport for an overnight flight home.
Kate and William's Glamorous $2m New York Send Off | Tom Sykes | December 10, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

The Annandale men deferred reply till the morrow, and slipped away to their homes overnight.
King Robert the Bruce | A. F. Murison
Our horses, which we had picketed in the open overnight, we saddled and tied out of sight in the brush.
Raw Gold | Bertrand W. Sinclair
Anoint the face with this, leave it on twenty or thirty minutes, or overnight if convenient, and wash off with warm water.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness | Florence Hartley
Cousin had regained his self-control overnight and outwardly appeared to be thoroughly composed.
A Virginia Scout | Hugh Pendexter
Every time your eminence wants some, advise me overnight or the same morning, and I will conform to his desire.
Balsamo, The Magician | Alexander Dumas

British Dictionary definitions for overnight

overnight

adverb(ˌəʊvəˈnaɪt)

for the duration of the night: we stopped overnight
in or as if in the course of one night; suddenly: the situation changed overnight

adjective(ˈəʊvəˌnaɪt) (usually prenominal)

done in, occurring in, or lasting the night: an overnight stop
staying for one night: overnight guests

lasting one night: an overnight trip; an overnight bank loan
for use during a single night: overnight clothes
occurring in or as if in the course of one night; sudden: an overnight victory

verb(intr)

to stay the night

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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